2010–11 Annual Report Published September 2011 by Sustainability Victoria. ABN 62 019 854 067 Level 28, Urban Workshop 50 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia. Also available on www.sustainability.vic.gov.au This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Authorised by Sustainability Victoria. Level 28, Urban Workshop 50 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia. Designed by Publicity Works. This report is printed by Impact Digital, an ISO 14001, carbon neutral printer, on Impact, a 100% recycled paper. Sustainability Victoria Annual Report 2010–2011 © Sustainability Victoria 2011. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are factually correct, Sustainability Victoria gives no warranty regarding its accuracy, completeness, currency or suitability for any particular purpose and to the extent permitted by law, does not accept any liability for loss or damages incurred as a result of reliance placed upon the content of this publication. This publication is provided on the basis that all persons accessing it undertake responsibility for assessing the relevance and accuracy of its content. Sustainability Victoria Annual Report 2010–2011 should be attributed to Sustainability Victoria. Sustainability Victoria Annual Report 2010–2011 (excluding all case studies) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia licence. In essence, you are free to copy, distribute and adapt the work, as long as you attribute the work and abide by the other licence terms. To view a copy of this licence, visit: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/ Contents ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Part 1: Foreword <4 Part 2: About Sustainability Victoria <6 Part 3: Our Board <8 Part 4: Our Executive Team <13 Part 5: Our performance <14 Part 6: Our foundation <36 Part 7: Summary of Financial Performance <39 Part 8: Annual Financial Statements <42 Part 9: Notes to the Financial Statements <45 Part 10: Legislative compliance <66 Part 11: Landfill levy <70 Part 12: Sustainability Fund <73 Appendices <82 4 Foreword ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Part 1 Foreword ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Dr Gillian Sparkes Anita Roper Chair CEO 2010–11 marked the start of an important transition for In May 2011, the Minister announced a strategic review Sustainability Victoria (SV). In November 2010 we of SV. The review considers the views of a wide range of welcomed a new Minister for Environment and Climate our stakeholders as well as other inputs to identify what Change, the Hon Ryan Smith. is working and what we can do better. The review will ensure our programs are aligned to government priorities In May 2011, the Government announced funding for its and effectively deliver real value for money to Victorian election commitments to a more sustainable Victoria. We families and businesses. Key focus areas for the review started to implement these commitments, including are the waste management needs of Victoria, improved energy-efficiency rebates to help low-income joint action with partner agencies in the Environment and householders cut their power bills; a voluntary Climate Change portfolio (including the Department of accreditation program for small to medium sized Sustainability and Environment, Environment Protection businesses that will support the production and provision Authority and Metropolitan and Regional Waste of sustainable goods and services; and an expansion of Management Groups) and a more effective whole-of- the ResourceSmart Australian Sustainable Schools government approach to sustainability investments. Initiative (AuSSI Vic) with grants to improve energy efficiency in schools. Following the completion of the review in September 2011, we will develop a new five year strategic plan to In June, the Victorian Auditor General delivered a report ensure we effectively implement government policy and into Municipal Solid Waste Management and the State’s deliver value for money programs. The strategy will build implementation of the Towards Zero Waste (TWZ) on current efforts to foster an evidence-based culture, strategy. The report findings and recommendations evaluate our programs and measure the associated provided an important platform to examine and improve environmental, economic and social outcomes for the way we operate. Supported by our Minister, we Victorians. accepted the findings and commenced a program of work to improve our delivery of Victoria’s waste strategy, TZW, and the associated resource efficiency outcomes for the state. 5 Foreword ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Throughout 2010–11, we worked to meet commitments ++ We distributed 2,578 solar hot water rebates to in our business plan. We provided information, advice Victorian households to abate approximately and incentives to help Victorians live, work and play 3,488 tonnes of GHG emissions. more sustainably. We delivered these commitments in ++ We provided free energy and water retrofits to partnership with our key stakeholder groups: 1,961 low-income households to help them save an businesses, communities, households and other average of approximately $140 off their utility bills government organisations. Key achievements included: each year. ++ Our Detox Your Home program provided Victorians ++ Our ResourceSmart schools program worked with with free, safe household chemical disposal and over 670 Victorian primary and secondary schools to collected more than 963 tonnes of chemicals. improve biodiversity, energy, waste and water ++ Commencement of our new TV recycling scheme to practices. help regional Victoria move from analogue to digital We also continued to administer the Sustainability Fund TV. We expect the scheme to divert 530 tonnes of with secretariat services on behalf of the Minister for waste from landfill, including 90 tonnes of lead. Environment and Climate Change and the Treasurer. ++ Our resource recovery project for small to medium During 2010-11 we farewelled Chair Mike Waller and enterprises (SMEs) collected an additional 19,033 long-standing board member Mick Bourke. We thank tonnes of recyclable packaging material through them for their outstanding contribution to SV over many grants for the purchase of new bins and trucks. years. ++ Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria Awards recognised We are pleased to present our 2010–11 Annual Report. the pride and commitment of local communities to sustainability and received 24% more entries this year. ++ Our City Switch program engaged 90 commercial building tenants in the Cities of Melbourne, Port Phillip Dr Gillian Sparkes Anita Roper and Yarra, abating 1,742 tonnes of greenhouse gas Chair CEO (GHG) and saving 496 megawatt hours (MWh) of energy. ++ We partnered with the Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) to deliver the final year of the Carbon Down program. Over three years, 38,000 Carbon Down activities delivered abatement of more than 70,000 tonnes of GHG emissions by SMEs, including over 40,000 tonnes in 2010–11. 6 About Sustainability Victoria ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Part 2 About Sustainability Victoria ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Manner of establishment and Our purpose responsible minister As an agency of the Victorian Government, we are a Sustainability Victoria (SV) is a Victorian Government catalyst for sustainable growth and development in Statutory Authority established under the Sustainability Victoria. We bring together the knowledge and Victoria Act 2005. The Hon Gavin Jennings, MP, Minister capabilities of people, organisations and communities to for the Environment and Climate Change, was the deliver integrated social, economic and environmental responsible minister until November 2010, when the Hon outcomes. Ryan Smith, MP, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, became the responsible minister. Our approach Our challenges must be addressed by the community as Objectives, functions and powers a whole. We work closely with stakeholders in key areas The objective of SV is to facilitate and promote for the Victorian economy, community and environment, environmental sustainability in the use of resources. particularly where market gaps or failures are evident. Our partnerships are fundamental to successful social, The functions of SV are contained in the Sustainability economic and environmental outcomes for a sustainable Victoria Act 2005, Part 2(7). Victoria. The powers of SV are contained in the Sustainability Victoria Act 2005, Part 2(8). Our role Sustainability Victoria implements Victorian Government policy by working with business, government and the community to reduce carbon pollution and facilitate the smarter use of energy, materials and water. Complementing the work of other government and non-government agencies,